Online tools, Uses, and Web-Based Development

Search Engines & Web Navigation:

Search engines and web navigation are great tools for finding better information. Learning to use them properly can help me, as a student and my future students, with subject index searches, keyword searches, and advanced searches. It allows web users to hone in on resources for lesson planning, research papers, or annotated bibliographies.

Website Evaluation:

Website evaluation is so important! According to Roblyer, “The Internet’s vast information storehouse, unfortunately, contains some information that is incomplete, misleading, inaccurate, and/or out of date (2016, p.199).” Letting students run loose on the internet can be dangerous, it is always important to show a video, like the one below, to emphasize the importance of a safe and credible website. This video is kid friendly and shows students that if something is confusing, talk to an adult about it. It also teaches the students to check the latest update, relevence, content source and the websites ending.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aem3JahbXfk

Favorite Professional Websites:

According to Roblyer, “Information must be presented in an attractive, creative, yet readable way (2016, p. 199).”

Kids.gov - Is a great website for kids of all ages, it has links to history, jobs and careers, exercise and eating healthy and government. It is a great website to allow students to explore for any assignment. The content is up to date and the visual design is simple and manageable.

Raz-Kids.com - This website is for teachers to track students reading. It is a fun website that keeps students engaged and reading on level books at home. The websites graphics/ design is kid friendly and the sponsorship is clearly stated- meaning is it a credible resource.

Online Safety and Security:

Online safety and security is vital when allowing students to use the Internet. Cyberbullying has become overwhelmingly common today. According to Roblyer, “Several sites have been set up to document and combat this problem, but the first line of defense remains school-based programs to raise awareness among students of what constitutes cyberbullying and to teach how to respond if they observe or are victim of this online mistreatment (2016, p. 175).” This statement stands out to me because it is important for students to know how to combat a bully.

Roblyer, M.D. (2016). Integrating Educational Technology into Teaching (Seventh ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education Inc.

The Basic Three

Word Processing Software

Word Processing Software helps teachers and students all over the world. Word Processing Software enhances the way teachers can share things with parents and each other more efficiently. By using Word Processing Software people are able to create documents for notes home, newsletters, permission slips and so much more. It is impacting education by allowing teachers to save time, enhance their documents appearance, allowing the sharing of documents, and the allowing of collaboration (Roblyer, 2016).  I will use this software in my future classroom for exactly the reasons just stated. Despite its many pros there are some cons, students might not understand how to keyboard or it can effect their handwriting (Roblyer, 2016).

Spreadsheet Software

Spreadsheet Software puts numerical information in row/column format; allows fast calculations, and recalculations, which are key functions for taking data in the classroom (Roblyer, 2016). In my future classroom I will use Spreadsheet Software for gradebooks and teaching math concepts. According to Roblyer (2016) Spreadsheet Software saves time, organizes displays of information, supports "what if" questions and increases motivation to work with mathematics. Sometimes this software can be confusing because it is something new or unfamiliar, but the more a teacher practices or uses it in his or her classroom the more comfortable student will become.

Presentation Software

I cannot wait to use Presentation Software in my future classroom, it can be a fun way to keep students engaged and learning. According to Roblyer (2016) the functions are to display text and graphics in teacher demos, support for lectures, student projects, book reports, and practice items. Though, at times, it can be fun sometimes it can hinder students from learning.

Classroom Use

Teachers use Word Processing, Spreadsheet, and Presentation Software in their classrooms every day. I would use Word Processing Software for notes home, newsletters, and exit slips. I would also use Spreadsheet Software in my classroom to collect data from students. I am mostly looking forward to using Presentation Software. I can use it for a morning routine which would include, date, weather, class schedule, etc. Or I can use it for virtual fieldtrips. Growing up Presentation Software was boring and now it doesn’t have to be! Below is a video of a virtual field trip I would take my students on.

Virtual Field Trip- Statue of Liberty

Roblyer, M.D. (2016). Integrating Educational Technology into Teaching (Seventh ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education Inc.